Protective enclosure

ABSTRACT

A bulletproof enclosure for use in a bank for stationing at least one guard therein includes access means so that the guard can enter the enclosure, communication means coupled to a local police station, for example, and loudspeakers, one of which may be disposed outside of the bank. The enclosure is preferably pivotable toward and away from a wall proximate to the tellers location in the bank and may be secured against the wall after the guard has entered the enclosure.

United States Patent [1 1 Hitrys et al.

[451 Sept. 18, 1973 1 PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE [76] Inventors: Paul Hitrys, 92 Columbia St.,

Brookline; Joshua S. Wainer, 26 Prince St., Milton, both of Mass.

[22] Filed: July 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 269,445

[52] U.S. Cl. 109/9 [51] Int. Cl. E05g 3/00 Field of Search 109/9, 11-19 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,916,524 7/1933 Moore 109/9 X 1,253,964 1/1918 Hack 1,827,347 I 10/1931 Barota 523,209 7/1894 Keely 590,013 9/1897 Avara 109/9 UX Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-David M. Driscoll [57] ABSTRACT A bulletproof enclosure for use in a bank for stationing at least one guard therein includes access means so that the guard can enter the enclosure, communication means coupled to a local police station, for example, and loudspeakers, one of which may be disposed outside of the bank. The enclosure is preferably pivotable toward and away from a wall proximate to the tellers location in the bank and may be secured against the wall after the guard has entered the enclosure.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PROTECTIVE ENGLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains in general to a protective enclosure, disposed in a bank, or the like place and for stationing one or more guards for the purpose of observing happenings in the bank. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a protective enclosure that is preferably constructed of bulletproof glass, that is movable and is preferably secured to a wall of the bank in a position to observe all alleged customers entering and leaving the bank.

There are numerous known devices and apparatus for use in banks and the like buildings for preventing or attempting to prevent robberies. For example, the bank may include an alarm switch which can be used by an employee of the bank to signal an alarm condition at a remote location such as at the local police station. One of the problems however, is that the employee may not have an opportunity to signal the local police station without jeopardizing his life or the safety of others. Many of the other devices and apparatus that have been conceived .in the past are relatively complex and expensive to purchase.

Usually, the guard that is stationed at the bank is positioned in the general area wherein customers come and go from the bank. Thus, it is usually quite easy for a thief or robber to apprehend the guard ashe enters the bank. Once the guard has been disarmed it'is then quite easy to complete the robber.

Accordingly, one important object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective enclosure for use in a bank, or the like structure, and in which may be stationed at least one guard.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective enclosure in accordance with the preceding object wherein the guard may be stationed in the enclosure over extended periods and wherein the guard is not required to circulate amongst the customers in the bank.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a protective enclosure in accordance with the preceding objects wherein the enclosure may be positioned preferably against a wall of the bank and in a position to observe all the customers entering and leaving the premises.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective enclosure for use in a bank, or the like structure, that is relatively inexpensive to fabricate, that is relatively simple in design, that is portable and that is fabricated using a bulletproof glass structure.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a protective enclosure for a bank guard that includes means for communicating outside of the bank, wherein the enclosure is preferably pivotable from a wall of .the bank andmay be secured against the wall after the guard has entered the enclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of the present invention, the protective enclosure in accordance with the principles of this invention generally comprises a bottom floor, a plurality of corner members defining the comers of the enclosure, a plurality of bulletproof glass panels coupled between at least some of the corner members and defining the side walls of the enclosure, and a plurality of rotatable members preferably in the form of casters, or the like, secured at spaced locations to the underside of the bottom floor for making the enclosure movable. The enclosure is preferably open in the back to provide access thereto. The bottom floor is preferably elevated above the bank floor and mayhave associated therewith a stairway for reaching the bottom floor defining the enclosure.

In one embodiment of the invention, the enclosure is pivotable along one side and the apparatus is further provided with a rope and pulley arrangement for pivoting the enclosure toward a wall of the bank in a position wherein the guard within the enclosure can observe all happenings and can easily observe the movement in and out of the bank of all customers. It is also preferable that the enclosure be provided with communication means including a telephone by means of which the guard can reach the local police station. In one embodiment of the invention the bulletproof panels are completely transparent so that the guard disposed in the enclosure can be observed. In another embodiment the bulletproof glass is primarily opaque but includes transparent windows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of one embodiment of a protective enclosure 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The enclosure includes a framework that may be constructed of interconnected metal members. The enclosure 10 generally comprises a bottom floor 12, four angle iron corner members I4, l5, l6 and I7, horizonprotective enclosure tally disposed top angle iron members 18, I9, 20 and 21, and'bulletproof glass panels 22, 23 and 24 which cover three sides of the enclosure. The back of the enclosure is preferably left open to provide access thereto.

. The bottom floor 12 is preferably elevated approximately two feet above the bank floor 26, may be constructed of plywood or sheet metal, and may comprise support means (not shown) for supporting the four corners of the bottom floor and securing the floor to the angle iron corner members. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the corner members extend almost to the floor and four rollers 28, which are fixed to the underside 29 of floor l2, suspend the comer members a few inches above the bank floor 26. An additional base member 30 may also interconnect between at least some of the comer posts to provide a unitary structure. Bottom protective panels 31 may also be provided and may be constructed of sheet metal, for example. These panels 31 till the space between bottom floor 12 and support member 30 and are disposed about at least three sides of the enclosure 10.

The rollers 28 are supported by a yoke member 32 in a conventional manner. The yoke member has a top shaft 34 which is secured to the underside 29 of bottom floor 12. This shaft 34 may be secured by means of bolts or in any other suitable manner to underside 29 of the floor. Also, the yoke 32 may be of the swivel type to permit easy movement of the enclosure.

The bottom floor 12 has a step 36 therein which is defined by three side walls 37 and a bottom wall 38. Suitable supporting beams or studs may be provided behind walls 37 and 38. A desk or the like storage area 40 may be secured to bottom floor 12. A chair (not shown) may also be provided in the enclosure.

It is preferred that the enclosure pivot from side wall 42. For this purpose corner member 17 has hinges 43 and 44 secured thereto preferably by the use of machine screws. The other side of the hinge is secured to the wall 42. FIG. 1 also shows means for moving the enclosure against wall 42. This means includes a pulley 46 secured to wall 42 and a rope 4 8 which is fixedly attached by fastener 49 to the underside 29 of floor 12. The non-fixed end of rope 43 is shown in FIG. 1 as being draped over a holder 50. The rope 48 may be knotted at its non-fixed end so that when the enlosure is opened the rope 48 does not fall from the holder 50. Holder 50 may be L-shaped or U-shaped.

After the guard has entered the enclosure by ascending step 36 the rope 48 may then be pulled through the pulley 46 causing the enclosure 10 to pivot about hinges 43 and 44 to a final position with both corner members 14 and 17 against side wall 62. The enclosure may be locked in this final position by means ofa catch arrangement including a U-shaped member 52 secured at the appropriate elevation to wall &2 and a releasable hook 54 secured to corner member M. When the enclosure has been completely pivoted towards wall 42, the hook 54 engages member 52 and the enclosure is in a secured condition. When it is desired to open the enclosure, the hook 54 is released and the guard can push against the wall 42 so that the enclosure is pivotably spaced therefrom.

A continuous hand rail 56 (see FIG. 2) extends about three sides of the enclosure. This hand rail is attached by suitable brackets to corner members M, 115, 16 and 17 and provides additional support for the enclosure.

The bulletproof glass panels may be constructed from commercially available bulletproof glass material and it is preferred that a double thickness of glass be used on the bottom half 23a of panel 23. Double thicknesses can also be used for the bottom sections of panels 22 and 24. In one embodiment each of the panels, such as panel 22 shown in FIG. 3 is almost totally opaque but includes a transparent window area 60 through which the guard may look. In another embodiment, the entire pannel 22 may be transparent.

In the enclosure 10 there is disposed a console 62 which may be suitably supported above bottom floor 12 by means of support studs 63 and 6d. Console 62 is used to communicate external of the enclosure 10. The console 62 includes a control panel 66 having a plurality of buttons associated therewith. One of these buttons is used to generate an alarm signal at the local police station, for example. Another button generates an alarm signal outside of the bank. Others of these buttons may control, for example, the operation of microphone 68 which couples to loudspeakers 70.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, one or more speakers are also disposed outside of the bank preferably adjacent the exitway of the bank and the bank guard can control, by way of control panel 66, the loudspeaker 70 so that the bank guard can indicate an alarm condition external of the bank. Another one of the buttons of control panel 66 may control the main door to the bank so that it can be immediately locked thereby trapping the robber in the bank. in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the panel 66 includes six buttons. Obviously, in other embodiments fewer or more buttons can be used depending upon the number of controls that are necessary. A telephone 68 is also used in the enclosure.

In another embodiment of the invention the hinges can be removed and the entire enclosure is then readily portable. in such an embodiment two catch arrangements can be used to secure the enclosure to the bank wall.

Having described one embodiment for the enclosure of the present invention, it should now be obvious that other embodiments are contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention which is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is l. A protective enclosure for use in a bank or the like structure comprising;

a bottom floor,

a plurality of corner members defining the corners of the enclosure,

a plurality of bulletproof glass panels coupled between at least some of said corner members and defining the side walls of the enclosure,

a plurality of rotatable members secured at spaced locations to the underside of said bottom floor,

means for moving said enclosure toward and away from a wall defining part of said bank,

a pair of pivot members both attached to the same corner member and each including a hinge,

each said hinge having one side secured to said enclosure and the other side secured to said bank wall for permitting pivotal movement of said enclosure toward and away from the bank wall,

said means for moving including a pulley secured to said bank wall and a rope secured at one end to said enclosure and having the other end draped in said enclosure,

a fastener for fixing one end of said rope to said bottom floor, and a holder for retaining the other end of the rope, said rope being wound about the pulley and moveable through said holder,

said bottom floor being elevated at least a step above the bank floor, and including means defining a step for providing entry from said bank floor to said enclosure floor,

a desk secured in said enclosure to said bottom floor,

wherein one of said panels has a bottom portion that is of a double thickness in comparison with the rest of the panel,

loudspeaker means having a speker both inside and outside of the bank,

and control means for signaling an alarm condition outside said bank.

2. A protective enclosure for use in a bank or the like structure comprising;

a relatively flat bottom floor,

four vertical angle iron corner members spacedly disposed and having their bottom ends secured to the corners of said relatively flat bottom floor,

four horizontal angle iron corner members connecting between respective vertical angle iron members at the top ends thereof,

three bulletproof glass panels, each one disposed between two spaced vertical members, a horizontal member and said floor,

four wheels secured at the underside corners of said floor adjacent but inwardly of said vertical members,

said floor being substantially rectangular,

means defining a step disposed below said floor for permitting easy access to said enclosure,

the back of said enclosure where said step is provided being open,

a pair of hinges secured to one of said vertical members adjacent said open back for permitting rotation of the entire enclosure toward and away from a wall defining a part of said bank,

a desk secured to said floor in the central area of said floor,

a pulley secured to said bank wall,

a rope secured at one end to the floor,

a holder secured to a side of said desk said rope being held in said holder at its other end,

a U-shapcd member secured to said bank wall a hook secured to another vertical member adjacent said open back for engagement with said U-shaped member to secure said enclosure against said bank wall.

a console of triangular shape having a flat top surface,

means for supporting said console at a predetermined height within said enclosure,

an array of buttons associated with said console at least one of which may be depressed to send an alarm,

a telephone associated with said console,

a loudspeaker secured to one of said horizontal members and disposed within said enclosure,

a second loudspeaker secured opposite said first loudspeaker and disposed outside said enclosure, and three handrails secured horizontally between respective vertical members except across said open back, said handrails functioning also as support struts for said enclosure.

t i l 1 

1. A protective enclosure for use in a bank or the like structure comprising; a bottom floor, a plurality of corner members defining the corners of the enclosure, a plurality of bulletproof glass panels coupled between at least some of said corner members and defining the side walls of the enclosure, a plurality of rotatable members secured at spaced locations to the underside of said bottom floor, means for moving said enclosure toward and away from a wall defining part of said bank, a pair of pivot members both attached to the same corner member and each including a hinge, each said hinge having one side secured to said enclosure and the other side secured to said bank wall for permit-ting pivotal movement of said enclosure toward and away from the bank wall, said means for moving including a pulley secured to said bank wall and a rope secured at one end to said enclosure and having the other end draped in said enclosure, a fastener for fixing one end of said rope to said bottom floor, and a holder for retaining the other end of the rope, said rope being wound about the pulley and moveable through said holder, said bottom floor being elevated at least a step above the bank floor, and including means defining a step for providing entry from said bank floor to said enclosure floor, a desk secured in said enclosure to said bottom floor, wherein one of said panels has a bottom portion that is of a double thickness in comparison with the rest of the panel, loudspeaker means having a speker both inside and outside of the bank, and control means for signaling an alarm condition outside said bank.
 2. A protective enclosure for use in a bank or the like structure comprising; a relatively flat bottom floor, four vertical angle iron corner members spacedly dis-posed and having their bottom ends secured to the corners of said relatively flat bottom floor, four horizontal angle iron corner members connecting between respective vertical angle iron members at the top ends thereof, three bulletproof glass panels, each one disposed between two spaced vertical members, a horizontal member and said floor, four wheels secured at the underside corners of said floor adjacent but inwardly of said vertical members, said floor being substantially rectangular, means defining a step disposed below said floor for permitting easy access to said enclosure, the back of said enclosure where said step is provided being open, a pair of hinges secured to one of said vertical members adjacent said open back for permitting rotation of the entire enclosure toward and away from a wall defining a part of said bank, a desk secured to said floor in the central area of said floor, a pulley secured to said bank wall, a rope secured at one end to the floor, a holder secured to a side of said desk said rope being held in said holder at its other end, a U-shaped member secured to said bank wall a hook secured to another vertical member adjacent said open back for engagement with said U-shaped member to secure said enclosure against said bank wall. a console of triangular shape having a flat top surface, means for supporting said console at a predetermined height within said enclosure, an array of buttons associated with said console at least one of which may be depressed to send an alarm, a telephone associated with said console, a loudspeaker secured to one of said horizontal members and disposed within said enclosure, a second loudspeaker secured opposite said first loudspeaker and disposed outside said enClosure, and three handrails secured horizontally between respective vertical members except across said open back, said handrails functioning also as support struts for said enclosure. 